WNr 191660 at the Flying Heritage Collection




Flying Heritage Collection, 2004 - 2022

The Flying Heritage Collection was founded and is owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It is located at Arlington airfield (WA) about 40 miles north of Seattle. The FHC website lists a Me 163B as a 'Future Restoration Project' on its collection page. In May 2005 it became clear that they acquired the Duxford Komet for £800,000. Somewhere between 16 to 20 May 2005 it started its journey from Duxford to Arlington.

Late 2006 it was announced that the collection will move to Paine Field in Everett, WA. Paine Field already hosts Boeing's Everett factory, the Musuem of Flight Restoration Center, the Stormbirds 262 project, the Future of Flight Museum and the Boeing Tour Center.

Early 2008, the restoration of an ancient hangar was finished, and the aircraft are moving in. The Bf 109E, Hurricane, I-16 and Spitfire flew in during April. On 1 May 2008 the Me 163 was rolled in. The facility will open on 6 June 2008 and open all days of the week through the summer.

The following pictures were made by Gary Webster late 2008. It shows the restored Komet, complete with a new canopy and even a Walter engine, possibly taken from the airframe.





In March 2017, the museum changed its name from 'Flying Heritage Collection' to 'Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum'.

In 2018, museum founder Paul Allen passed away, making the future of the musuem unclear.

In 2019, Kermit Weeks visited the museum and made a two-part video. The Komet, plus MK 108 cannon, Walter HWK 109-509 rocket engine and Scheuch-Schlepper can be seen here: Visiting Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Museum - Part 1 .




Wartime History Museum, 2022 - current

In August 2022, it was announced that the artifacts and other assets of Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum have been acquired by Wartime History Museum, a nonprofit orgaisation founded by Steuart Walton. The museum will reopen at its current location sometime during the next year.





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